NationalPhDDeadline: 2026-06-05

INSPIRE Fellowship 2025-26

Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India

Overview

INSPIRE Fellowship 2025-26 is open to PhD students. This scholarship is provided by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and the value of this scholarship is Research grant as per GoI norms for 5 years.

Open for: Students enrolled in Ph.D. degree in Basic and Applied Sciences
Degree: PhD
Provided by: Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India
Deadline: 5 Jun 2026
Scholarship Value: Research grant as per GoI norms for 5 years

Eligibility

To be eligible, an applicant must:-
be in the age group of 22-27 years
be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in any recognised university/institution/Research and Development (R&D) laboratory in India
be an INSPIRE scholar having secured a minimum of 70% marks (or CGPA equivalent) in aggregate at M.Sc. or Integrated M.S./M.Sc. degree OR
be a 1st rank holder at the university level examination in postgraduate (PG) level examinations in Basic/Applied Sciences including Engineering, Medical, Pharmaceutical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Sciences from any recognised university and academic institution in India OR
be a 1st rank holder at the graduate/postgraduate level examination in Medicine only conducted by a university/institution in India
The following candidates are not eligible for the fellowship:-
1st rank holders in college, including autonomous college examination.
Candidates who have obtained degree(s) through distance education mode.
1st rank holder in any specialisation at M.Sc. degree in second year/last year.

Benefits

A total of 1,000 fellows will be selected under this scheme. The selected fellows will receive a grant as per Government of India (GoI) norms for a maximum period of five years or completion of the Ph.D. degree (whichever is earlier).

How to Apply

Eligible candidates can apply for the fellowship using the below-mentioned steps:-

1Click on the 'Apply Now' button.
2Click on the 'Register' button and fill in the required details to 'Register'. ( Note: - If already registered, log in using Gmail/Mobile number/Email ID)
3Navigate to the 'Sign In' section on the right-hand side of the dashboard and click on the 'Register here' button.
4Provide the required information and select 'Fellowship (PhD)' under the INSPIRE scheme category to register.
5After successful registration, log in with the valid credentials to proceed with the application process.
6Fill in the required details, upload the supporting documents, and submit the application form.

Selection Process

Applicants will have to undergo a two-stage selection process

Level I: Screening for eligibility
Level II: Evaluation by a Subject Expert Committee (SEC)
Applicants who are already admitted to a Ph.D. program in Science and Technology (S&T) before submitting the application and selected at both level I & level II, will be awarded the final offer for the INSPIRE fellowship.
Applicants who have not been admitted to a Ph.D. program in S&T before applying and get selected at level I, will be awarded a provisional offer for the INSPIRE fellowship.
The provisional offer will be made based on the scrutiny of the application along with the required documents (level I) submitted by the applicant.
However, the final offer will be made based on the evaluation of the application at level II considering the following factors:-
Academic merit
Host Institution including Research Supervisor profile and Detailed Research Proposal by the Subject Expert Committee
At Level II, the applicants are required to secure a qualifying score/cutoff. The cut-off marks may vary based on the competitive framework of the selection process.

Note

- A provisional offer does not guarantee the award of the INSPIRE fellowship.
The student is provided with a one-year validity to take admission into a Ph.D. program.

Documents Required

A passport-size photograph; [in JPEG format; size 50KB]
Class 10 marksheet or certificate (for proof of Date of Birth); [in PDF format; size 1 MB]
Marksheets of educational qualifications (Class 12, UG & PG Program); [in PDF format; size 1 MB]
First rank certificate for applicants who are not INSPIRE scholars; [in PDF format; size 1 MB]
Appointment letter (if employed) [PDF format; size 1 MB]
Endorsement letter; [PDF format; size 1 MB]
For the applicants already enrolled in PhD. programme: Admission Letter (issued by University Authorities i.e. Registrar, Dean, Director, etc. Only joining as JRF will not be acceptable, in such case, applicants should submit as a non-Ph.D. scholar); [in PDF format; size 1 MB]
Fee receipt for Ph.D. admission; [in PDF format; size 1 MB]
Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the Ph. D. Supervisor; [in PDF format; size 1 MB]
Endorsement letter; [in PDF format; size 1 MB]
Research Proposal
Methodology and workplan (if required) [in PDF format; size 2 MB]
For the applicants already enrolled in PhD. programme: Three choices of university/institute and supervisors
Brief tentative write-up of the research proposal

Quick Info

Funding

Research grant as per GoI norms for 5 years

Level

PhD

Region

India

Deadline

2026-06-05

Applicants will have to undergo a two-stage selection process

Level I: Screening for eligibility
Level II: Evaluation by a Subject Expert Committee (SEC)
Applicants who are already admitted to a Ph.D. program in Science and Technology (S&T) before submitting the application and selected at both level I & level II, will be awarded the final offer for the INSPIRE fellowship.
Applicants who have not been admitted to a Ph.D. program in S&T before applying and get selected at level I, will be awarded a provisional offer for the INSPIRE fellowship.
The provisional offer will be made based on the scrutiny of the application along with the required documents (level I) submitted by the applicant.
However, the final offer will be made based on the evaluation of the application at level II considering the following factors:-
Academic merit
Host Institution including Research Supervisor profile and Detailed Research Proposal by the Subject Expert Committee
At Level II, the applicants are required to secure a qualifying score/cutoff. The cut-off marks may vary based on the competitive framework of the selection process.

Note

- A provisional offer does not guarantee the award of the INSPIRE fellowship.
The student is provided with a one-year validity to take admission into a Ph.D. program.

Documents Required

A passport-size photograph; [in JPEG format; size 50KB]

Class 10 marksheet or certificate (for proof of Date of Birth); [in PDF format; size 1 MB]

Marksheets of educational qualifications (Class 12, UG & PG Program); [in PDF format; size 1 MB]

First rank certificate for applicants who are not INSPIRE scholars; [in PDF format; size 1 MB]

Appointment letter (if employed) [PDF format; size 1 MB]

Endorsement letter; [PDF format; size 1 MB]

For the applicants already enrolled in PhD. programme: Admission Letter (issued by University Authorities i.e. Registrar, Dean, Director, etc. Only joining as JRF will not be acceptable, in such case, applicants should submit as a non-Ph.D. scholar); [in PDF format; size 1 MB]

Fee receipt for Ph.D. admission; [in PDF format; size 1 MB]

Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the Ph. D. Supervisor; [in PDF format; size 1 MB]

Endorsement letter; [in PDF format; size 1 MB]

Research Proposal

Methodology and workplan (if required) [in PDF format; size 2 MB]

For the applicants already enrolled in PhD. programme: Three choices of university/institute and supervisors

Brief tentative write-up of the research proposal